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At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2012

Spectroscopic Characterization of Mineralogy Across Vesta: Evidence of Different Lithologies

The average spectrum of Vesta, obtained by VIR in the range 0.25-5.1 microns, shows clear evidence of absorption bands due to pyroxenes and thermal emissions beyond 3.5 11m. Vesta shows considerable variability across its surface in terms of spectral reflectance and emission, band depths, bands widths and bands centers, reflecting a complex geological history. Vesta's average spectrum and inferred mineralogy resemble those of howardite meteorites. On a regional scale, significant deviations are seen: the south polar 500km Rheasilvia impact crater has a higher diogenitic component, and equatorial regions show a higher eucritic component. This lithologic distribution, with a concentration of Mg-pyroxenes in the Rheasilvia area, reinforces the hypothesis of a deeper diogenitic crust excavated by the impact that formed the Rheasilvia crater, and an upper eucritic crust, whose remnants are seen in the equatorial region. This scenario has implications for Vesta differentiation, consistent with magma ocean models. However, serial magmatism models could also have concentrated pyroxene cumulates in plutons emplaced within the lower crust,

De Sanotis, M. C.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Organic Geochemistry of the Hamersley Province: Relationships Among Organic Carbon Isotopes, Molecular Fossils, and Lithology

Molecular fossils are particularly valuable ancient biosignatures that can provide key insight about microbial sources and ecology in early Earth studies. In particular, hopanes carrying 2-methyl or 3-methyl substituents are proposed to be derived from cyanobacteria and oxygen-respiring methanotrophs, respectively, based on both their modem occurrences and their Proterozoic and Phanerozoic sedimentary distributions. Steranes are likely from ancestral eukaryotes. The distribution of methylhopanes, steranes, and other biomarkers in 2.72-2.56 billion-year-old rocks from the Hamersley Province, Western Australia show relationships to lithology, facies, and isotopes of macromolecular carbon, and other biomarkers. These observations support biomarker syngenicity and thermal maturity. Moreover, ecological signatures are revealed, including a surprising relationship between isotopic values for bulk macromolecular carbon and the biomarker for methanotrophs. The record suggests that cyanobacteria were likely key organisms of shallow-water microbial ecosystems providing molecular oxygen, fixed carbon, and possibly fixed nitrogen, and methanotrophs were not alone in recycling methane and other C-13-depleted substrates.

Eigenbrode, Jennifer L.↗
NASA NTRS2015

BILLIARDS: Baseline Instrumented Lithology Lander, Inspector and Asteroid Redirection Demonstration System

BILLIARDS Baseline Instrumented Lithology Lander, Inspector, and Asteroid Redirection Demonstration System Proposed demonstration mission for Billiard-Ball concept Select asteroid pair with natural close approach to minimize cost and complexity Primary Objectives Rendezvous with a small (10m), near Earth (alpha) asteroid Maneuver the alpha asteroid to a collision with a 100m (beta) asteroid Produce a detectable deflection or disruption of the beta asteroid Secondary objectives Contribute knowledge of asteroid composition and characteristics Contribute knowledge of small-body formation Opportunity for international collaboration

Asteroid Redirection↗
NASA NTRS2020

Characteristics of a New Carbonaceous Chondrite, Metal-Rich-Lithology Found in the Carbonaceous Chondrite Breccia Aguas Zarcas

The Aguas Zarcas meteorite fell in Costa Rica on 23 April 2019 at 21:07 local time, with a total mass of about 27 kg. Hundreds of fusion-crusted stones ranging from 0.1 to 1868 g were recovered (The Meteoritical Bulletin). The meteorite was classified as a CM chondrite, but some lithlogies show a different texture to that of CM. In this study, we investigated the petrography, mineral-ogy, chemistry, and isotopic composition of an unusual “Metal-rich-lithology” from this fresh fall.

Kerraouch, I.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Metal-Rich Lithology within the Aguas Zarcas Breccia: Characterization, Origin, and Evolution

Carbonaceous chondrites are important since they provide critical insights into the early history of the Solar System. They have experienced a wide range of processes, including aqueous alteration and thermal metamorphism or a combination of both that provide important information about the environment of their evolution. We investigated the petrography, mineralogy, chemistry, and isotopic composition of an unusual “metal-rich lithology” (hereafter Met-1) from Aguas Zarcas using numerous analytical techniques, in order to properly understand its characteristics, affinities, origin and formation history.

I Kerraouch↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Initial Characterization of Intermediate Bennu Particles to Evaluate Lithologic Diversity and Mineralogic and Redox Equilibria

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft returned regolith from asteroid Bennu to Earth September 24, 2023 [1]. As part of initial science allocations and sample analysis plan [2], JSC science team members received aggregate material from within the TAGSAM head (OREX-803017-0) to characterize. Here we report the results of analyses that have been carried out to determine mineralogic composition, surface features, and overall lithologic diversity in Bennu particles. These initial observations will inform additional analyses that will address the nature of pre-biotic and pre-solar material, formation location of Bennu, geologic history of the asteroid, and its impact/collisional/re-accretion history [3].

Bennu↗
NASA NTRS1972

Space configuration as an explanation for lithology-related cross-polarized radar image anomalies

Three rock types are described that produce dark cross-polarized images on Ka-band imagery: lava flows dating from Pleistocene and Holocene, some Tertiary volcanics, and certain massive sandstones. Their planar surfaces are large with respect to the wavelength of the Ka-band system, yet are small in comparison to the resolution. It is found that only outcrops with proper faceted surface orientations produce significant radar returns showing the dominance of specular reflectors. The omnidirectional attitude of the facets and their wide distribution on the outcrops explains the independence of look-direction that the flat-lying anomalous outcrops exhibit in production of darker cross-polarized images.

Mccauley, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Structural and lithologic study of Northern Coast Range and Sacramento Valley, California

The author has identified the following significant results. Preliminary analysis of the data received has disclosed two potentially important northwest-trending systems of linear features within the Northern California Coast Ranges. A third system, which trends northeast, can be traced with great uncertainty across the alluviated part of the Sacramento Valley and into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. These linear features may represent fault systems or zones of shearing. Of interest, although not yet verified, is the observation that some of the mercury concentrations and some of the geothermally active areas of California may be located at the intersection of the Central and the Valley Systems. One, perhaps two, stratigraphic unconformities within the Late Mesozoic sedimentary rocks were detected during preliminary examination of the imagery; however, more analysis is necessary in order to verify this preliminary interpretation. A heretofore unrecognized, large circular depression, about 15 km in diameter, was detected within the alluviated part of the Sacramento Valley. The depression is adjacent to a large laccolithic intrusion and may be geologically related to it. Changes in the photogeologic characteristics of this feature will continue to be monitored.

Rich, E. I.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Distinguishing major lithologic types in rocks of precambrian age in central Wyoming using multilevel sensing, with a chapter on possible economic significance of iron formation discovered by use of aircraft images in the Granite Mountains of Wyoming

The author has identified the following significant results. Information obtained by remote sensing from three altitude levels: ERTS-1 (565 miles), U-2 (60,000 feet), and C-130 aircraft (15,000 feet) illustrates the possible application of multilevel sensing in mineral exploration. Distinction can be made between rocks of greenstone belts and rocks of granite-granite gneiss areas by using ERTS-1 imagery in portions of the Precambrian of central Wyoming. Study of low altitude color and color infrared photographs of the mafic terrain revealed the presence of metasedimentary rocks with distinct layers that were interpreted as amphibolite by photogeologic techniques. Some of the amphibolite layers were found to be iron formation when examined in the field. To our knowledge this occurrence of iron formation has not been previously reported in the literature.

Houston, R. S.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Structural and lithologic study of northern coast ranges and Sacramento Valley, California

The author has identified the following significant results. Analysis of ERTS-1 imagery of the Northern California Coast Ranges has disclosed a potential relation between a heretofore unrecognized fracture system and known deposits of mercury and geothermally active areas in the Coast Range and between oil and gas fields in the Sacramento Valley. Three potentially important systems of linear elements within the Coast Ranges, detected on ERTS-1 imagery, may represent fault systems or zones of shearing because topographic offset and stratigraph disruption can be seen along one or two of the lineations. One of the systems in subparallel to the San Andreas fault and is confined to the Pacific Coastal Belt. Another set is confined to the central core of the Coast Ranges. The third set of linear features (Valley System) has not heretofore been recognized. Some of the known mercury deposits and geothermally active areas near Clear Lake, in the Coast Ranges, are along the Valley System or at the intersection of the Central and Valley Systems. The plotted locations of some of the oil and gas fields in the Sacramento Valley are associated with the Valley and/or Central Systems. If these relations prove reliable, the ERTS-1 imagery may prove to be an extremely useful exploration tool.

Rich, E. I.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Structural and lithologic study of northern coast ranges and Sacramento Valley, California

The author has identified the following significant results. The pattern of linear systems within the project area has been extended into the western foothill belt of the Sierra Nevada. The chief pattern of linear features in the western Sierran foothill belt trends about N. 10 - 15 deg W., but in the vicinity of the Feather River the trend of the features abruptly changes to about N. 50-60 deg W and appears to be contiguous across the Sacramento Valley with a similar system of linear features in the Coast Ranges. The linear features in the Modoc Plateau and Klamath Mt. areas appear unrelated to the systems detected in the Coast Ranges of Sierran foothill belt. Although the change in trend of the Sierran structural features has been previously suggested and the interrelationship of the Klamath Mt. region with the northern Sierra Nevadas has been postulated, the data obtained from the ERTS-1 imagery strengthens these notions and provides for the first time evidence of a direct connection of the structural trends within the alluviated part of the Sacramento Valley. In addition rocks of Pleistocene and Holocene age are offset by some of the linear features seen on ERTS-1 imagery and hence may record the latest episode of geologic deformation in north-central California.

Rich, E. I.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Structural and lithologic study of northern California Coast Range and Sacramento Valley, California

The author has identified the following significant results. Photgeologic examination of repetitive multispectral ERTS-1 imagery of Northern California has disclosed several systems of linear features which may be important for the interpretation of the structural history of California. They are separated from an orthogonal system of linears in the Klamath Mts. by a set of discontinuous southeast-trending linear features (the Mendocino system) which is traceable from the Pacific Coast, at Cape Mendocino, into the eastern foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Within the Sierra Nevada, the Mendocino system separates the north-trending Sierran system from a set of linears characteristic of the Modoc Plateau. With minor exception, little overlap exists among the systems which suggests a decipherable chronology and evolutionary history for the region. The San Andres system of linears appears to truncate or co-exist with most of the other systems in the northern Coast Ranges. The Mendocino system truncates the Klamath, Sierran, and Modoc systems. The Sierran system may represent fundamental and long-persisting pre-late Paleozoic zones of crustal weakness which have been reactivated from time to time. The Mendocino system was possibly developed in early Mesozoic and is important to the structural framework of Northern California.

Rich, E. I.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The influence of seasonal factors on the recognition of surface lithologies from ERTS-imagery of the western Transvaal

The value to geological studies of repetitive ERTS-imagery was investigated by comparing two images gathered during different seasons over an area in the western Transvaal Province of the Republic of South Africa. The first of the two images (1050-07355) was gathered on September 11th., 1972, co-inciding with the end of the dry winter season. The second image (1158-07363) was gathered in the middle of the summer rainfall season on December 28th., 1972. A comparison of the two images reveals striking differences in the amount of recognizable geological detail. The differences exhibited by the two images clearly demonstrate the importance of repetitive ERTS coverage in geological investigations, particularly in areas of marked seasonal variations.

Grootenboer, J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Surface configuration as an explanation for lithology-related cross-polarized radar image anomalies

One problem that has persisted since the development of multipolarized radar is the cause or causes of differential depolarization which is expressed as tonal reversals between like- and cross-polarized images of certain outcrops. Rocks producing anomalously low returns on the cross-polarized image could be classed into three general types: (1) certain geologically recent lava flows (late Pleistocene and Holocene), (2) some tertiary volcanics and (3) certain massive sandstones. Differential depolarization has been produced by volcanic rocks of various compositions including rhyolite, rhyodacite, dacite, andesite, and basalt. This has led to the conclusion that differential depolarization is not directly caused by any compositional factor. However, the study of aerial photos and subsequent field observation have led to the conclusion that the weathering and other surface characteristics of the outcrops are responsible for their appearance on multipolarized imagery.

Mccauley, J. R.↗